She raised an eyebrow. "I can bite."
My lips quirked up into a smile. "I remember."
"Having dated a vampire or two, I can assure you that biting can be part of the fun."
I raised an eyebrow. "I thought you didn't date?"
"I don't anymore, but there was a foolish period in my youth when I tried it." She set the puppy down on the ground and wrapped the lead around her hand. "If you want to walk with me, then it wouldn't be objectionable."
"That almost sounds like a compliment," I responded.
"You're pleasant company and I assume you're in the area because of our appointment anyway."
"I am. I thought I'd come eat lunch in the park. I didn't expect you to be walking your puppy. I didn't even know you had one."
"I guess I know you didn't snoop around my house then," Hel responded. "You'd have found several indications there."
"Where was he the other night?"
"At the dog sitter's," she said. "I don't leave him home alone for that long, especially when he's in his puppy phase. He'd destroy everything."
"Sounds like separation anxiety."
She shrugged. "It's somewhat unavoidable after hundreds of years in one another's company," she said. "He's all I need, aren't you, Garmr?" The way she looked at the puppy made me melt a little inside. There was so much affection in her smile that it was hard to reconcile it with the goddess who insisted she wasn't looking for love.
"So, why don't you date?" I asked curiously.
"Oh, no. We don't do personal questions," Hel responded.
"You were the one who started it by talking about Garmr," I pointed out as we fell into step beside one another with her puppy bouncing along beside her.
She sighed. "Fine. You can ask five questions."
"Hmmm, now I'm going to have to think of good ones," I mused. "I guess my question about why you don't date is a good one to start."
"Because what's the point?" she responded. "Life is finite, then you die. Unless you're immortal, and in that case, everyone around you dies."
"That's bleak."
"That's reality." A small smile lifted her lips as she looked down at her puppy, who was taking the chance to pee. "Good boy, Garmr. Good boy."
I watched curiously as her entire demeanour softened and she pulled out a treat for the tiny dog.
"I think a lot of people would say that love is worth it because life is finite," I said.
Hel shrugged. "Most people are idiots."
"Do you really not want to find love?" I asked.
"Is that one of your questions?" she responded.
"No."
"Then I don't think I'll answer."
"Fine by me. How did you become a goddess of death?" I asked.
She looked at me sideways. "That's what you're going for?"
